At War with the Mystics
The Flaming Lips · 2006
203 min · 42 tracks · alternative rock · space rock
A whimsical fusion of psychedelic melodies and existential musings wrapped in vibrant instrumentation.
Why this album works
'At War with the Mystics' received widespread critical acclaim, reaching number 4 on the Billboard 200 and earning a Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. Its creative approach and conceptual depth influenced a wave of indie rock artists, showcasing a blend of political commentary and surrealism that resonated during a tumultuous socio-political climate.
- Best for
- long, immersive listening sessions dynamic emotional journeys atmospheric background focus
- Context
- Released on April 3, 2006, 'At War with the Mystics' was The Flaming Lips' follow-up to their critically acclaimed breakthrough album 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.' By this point, they had solidified their presence in alternative rock, transitioning from an underground cult favorite to mainstream recognition. This album marked a continued exploration of grand themes and experimental sounds that defined their early 2000s output.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Green Day· Neil Young· Moby· Beck· Tori Amos· Linkin Park· Sonic Youth· Nine Inch Nails
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
Disc 1
- 1 The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (with All Your Power) Standout 4:51
- 2 Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber) Standout 3:41
- 3 The Sound of Failure / It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark?? 7:18
- 4 My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life as Blazing Shield of Defiance and Optimism as Celestial Spear of Action) 4:51
- 5 Vein of Stars 4:15
- 6 The Wizard Turns On… the Giant Silver Flashlight and Puts on His Werewolf Moccasins 3:41
- 7 It Overtakes Me / The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand a Chance? 6:50
- 8 Mr. Ambulance Driver 4:21
- 9 Haven’t Got a Clue 3:25
- 10 The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat) Standout 3:42
- 11 Pompeii am Götterdämmerung 4:21
- 12 Goin’ On 3:39
Disc 2
- 1 The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (with All Your Power) Standout 5:22
- 2 Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber) Standout 3:39
- 3 The Sound of Failure / It’s Dark… Is It Always This Dark? 7:18
- 4 My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life as Blazing Shield of Defiance and Optimism as Celestial Spear of Action) 5:01
- 5 Vein of Stars 4:58
- 6 The Wizard Turns On… the Giant Silver Flashlight and Puts on His Werewolf Moccasins 3:45
- 7 It Overtakes Me / The Stars Are So Big… I Am So Small… Do I Stand a Chance? 6:55
- 8 Mr. Ambulance Driver 4:22
- 9 Haven’t Got a Clue 3:23
- 10 The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat) Standout 3:42
- 11 Pompeii am Götterdämmerung 4:22
- 12 Goin’ On 3:44
- 13 Why Does It End? 4:38
- 14 You Gotta Hold On 4:52
- 15 Your Face Can Tell the Future 5:20
- 16 The Gold in the Mountain of Our Madness 4:47
- 17 Time Travel?? Yes!! 3:23
- 18 Bohemian Rhapsody 6:36
- 19 My Cosmic Autumn Rebellion (The Inner Life as Blazing Shield of Defiance and Optimism as Celestial Spear of Action) 4:39
- 20 Goin’ On 3:43
- 21 Unmade Bed / No Quarter 6:55
- 22 The Sound of Failure 4:03
- 23 Vein of Stars 4:50
- 24 Vein of Stars (Operatic Spook) 4:15
- 25 The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (with All Your Power) (Chicken Fried Hoedown Protest Rally) 4:44
- 26 The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (with All Your Power) (In Anatropous Reflex) 4:22
- 27 Mr. Ambulance Driver 5:01
- 28 The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song 4:07
- 29 The W.A.N.D. 3:48
- 30 2006 Classen High Commencement Speech 12:19
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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